PRAGUE – The Armádní zpravodaj portal has highlighted a potential discrepancy between the Czech army's records of artillery systems and the delivery of 100 howitzers from South Korea. According to the information published, the number of large-caliber artillery systems registered by the Czech Republic in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) has not changed, despite the expected arrival of 100 105mm howitzers in the country in 2025.

According to data cited by the portal, the Czech army continues to report a total of 193 large-caliber artillery systems, which is consistent with previous periods. It also refers to South Korean export records, which indicate that a delivery of hundreds of howitzers was made to the Czech Republic.

Armádní zpravodaj states that this raises the question of where this equipment is located. According to the portal, two possibilities exist: either the delivery to the Czech Republic did not actually take place, or the howitzers were transferred to another country after being imported. The second option is considered more likely, with the argument that the Czech army does not typically include older types of M101 howitzers or their South Korean variants in its arsenal.

The portal further states that the final destination of the equipment could have been Ukraine. However, no direct evidence or official confirmation from Czech, South Korean, or Ukrainian authorities has been published to support this claim.

South Korea has consistently stated that it does not directly supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. However, international media has previously reported on indirect forms of military support through third countries. Armádní zpravodaj suggests that the Czech Republic could be acting as a logistical and commercial hub for the further transfer of military equipment.

According to the portal, this is not an isolated incident, and similar shipments of older howitzers of Greek origin were reportedly transited through the Czech Republic in the past. However, these claims were not supported by official documents in the article.

The Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic and other state institutions have not yet commented on the claims made by the portal. Therefore, whether the South Korean howitzers were actually transferred outside the territory of the Czech Republic remains unconfirmed.

gnews.cz - GH